Canada
British Columbia
Vancouver Island
Victoria Capital Regional District
Victoria
Things to do in Victoria
Royal BC Museum

Royal BC Museum, Victoria: Hours, Address, Royal BC Museum Reviews: 4.5/5

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Royal BC Museum

See all things to do
See all things to do
Royal BC Museum
4.5
7,089
#3 of 153 things to do in Victoria
Speciality Museums
Read more
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
See all of British Columbia at the Royal BC Museum, a world-class museum of natural and human history. Explore our core galleries and immerse yourself in tales of where we've been and where we are going. Marvel at the totems, masks and cultural treasures featured in the world-class First Peoples Gallery. Walk through the colourful "language forest" in Our Living Languages and hear greetings in one of 34 Indigenous BC languages. Experience authentic artifacts and highly realistic settings -- from the Woolly Mammoth in his rocky, icy world to a tar-scented trip on the HMS Discovery.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: James Bay
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Restaurants
809 within 5 kms
Legislative Dining Room
307
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
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1,380
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Greek • Grill
Clive's Classic Lounge
229
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • International • European
Bartholomew's Public House
589
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • British
Cora
682
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • American • Healthy • Canadian
Frankie's Modern Diner
639
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Diner • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Floyd's Diner
432
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • American • Diner • Canadian
Q at The Empress
761
0.2 km$$$$ • Seafood • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Red Fish Blue Fish
2,932
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Fast food
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1,269
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Attractions
158 within 10 kms
Thunderbird Park
244
67 mParks
BC Ferries
4,477
0.2 kmFerries
Empress Hotel National Historic Site of Canada
2,283
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Inner Harbour
5,319
0.3 kmBodies of Water • Historic Walking Areas
Emily Carr Statue
13
0.1 kmMonuments & Statues
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
3,121
0.3 kmHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
The Netherlands Centennial Carillon
5
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Victoria Conference Centre
17
0.2 kmTheatres
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1,112
0.3 kmSpeciality Museums • Children's Museums
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607
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Popular mentions
4.5
7,089 reviews
Excellent
5,123
Very good
1,576
Average
322
Poor
42
Terrible
26
Kidderminsterkid
Lincoln, UK196 contributions
Total Disappointment
May 2022 • Couples
We arrived having been told this was one of the best museums to visit in Canada.
However, we discovered that many of the exhibits had recently been closed due to the politicos getting their knickers in a twist regards the history of the land. HISTORY IS HISTORY, you cannot unmake it!
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Francois D
Bordeaux, France200 contributions
Natural history of British Columbia
Apr. 2022
The natural history part of the museum is the only one currently open but it is definitely worth the visit. The scenery and the various collections are great. We added to the museum visit a Imax session. Excellent too.
Written April 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jriebe805783
Port Coquitlam, Canada4 contributions
WOW
Apr. 2022
Went to the Imax 3D America's Wild Fantastic journey great sound comfortable seats in a safe sourrounding a must try!
Written April 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
FamilyFore
Prince George, Canada59 contributions
Save your money!
Mar. 2022 • Couples
Basically the only reason it’s wasn’t marked as a 1 was because it’s wasn’t raining inside. I have been to this museum a bunch of times over the years and remember it fondly. This was not the case this time. 3rd floor was closed for reno’s which I can appreciate but the remaining exhibits basically sucked. The orca display was basically a bunch of signs talking about their life cycle, two sets of bones and a couple of videos. The only thing that was interesting was the hunting program video to capture orcas for the aquarium programs in the 60’s and 70’s. In a nut shell save your money and do something else. I won’t be back until the reno’s are completed.
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Marion W
Seattle, WA762 contributions
the removal of the 3rd floor for decolonization/settler display makes it no longer my favorite museum
Dec. 2021
I was shocked to learn that I was there on the last day. The settler display is totally wonderful and 'teaches' nothing about what was right or wrong at the time. Why pretend that it didn't happen? This is not in conflict with their wonderful indigenous display. Both tell the history that you cannot be in denial about. The name' Royal' should then also be removed while they're at it. Their explanations are totally nuts and deeply disappointing
Written March 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BrushM
Oxford, UK1,316 contributions
Ok but lots of it is closed
Feb. 2022
This is not what we were expecting. A lot of the museum is closed and the part that is open is devoted entirely to natural history. We were expecting the history of BC. Maybe our mistake but anyway not as anticipated. Nothing wrong with the exhibitions that are there particularly if you like whales.

So my advice would be to look carefully at what they are or aren't offering.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
rbrian58
Vancouver, Canada11 contributions
Excellent Insight Into British Columbia's Landscape & History
Feb. 2022
The Orca exhibit was impressive as were the other displays in the museum. The staff are friendly and helpful. Lots to see and do and well worth the price of admission. Be sure to take in the Imax show; well worth the cost.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
LibbyTom
Vancouver, Canada97 contributions
Only ½ a museum
Feb. 2022
When visiting Victoria, this is alway a must see for our family. However, on our last trip, when we paid, we were told that "this exhibit and that exhibit" were closed for renovations. We paid the full pull, only to discover that the closed exhibits encompassed the entire third floor. As the only other exhibits are on the 2nd floor, this amounted to half of the museum being closed. I felt they should have been a little more clear about that before taking my money.
Written February 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Aleksander Trzebski
Vancouver, Canada166 contributions
Wife: What are you doing? Me: Fact checking the Museum
Jan. 2022
I've never, in my life, fact checked a museum so often. They often credited the wrong people for environmental accomplishments, or straight up made things up in regards to current social issues. If I wanted biased information I'd go to my Facebook feed not a museum. This was my first time going, and couldn't comment on "how it used to be" . The orca exhibit was unmemorable, the bc natural history portion was alright but a bit dated. Imax was Imax. For the price paid I could not recommend it. When the third floor opens maybe it'll be better.
Written February 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
RinCanada
Victoria Capital Regional District, Canada15 contributions
Entire Third Floor Closed
Jan. 2022
Any review that predates 2022 is a review of a museum that is substantially different from the museum that stands there now. The entire third floor of the museum is closed, in the name of "decolonization." Admission prices are unchanged. Save your money.
Written February 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Royal BC Museum
Royal BC Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Royal BC Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 8 Royal BC Museum tours on Tripadvisor
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